蛇&意大利童話


    有一個農夫每天都到田裏去除草,到了中午,他的三個女兒輪流給他送飯。一天大女兒來送飯,穿過樹林的時候,她因為走累了,就坐在一塊石頭上休息。剛一坐下,就聽到地下發出一聲巨大的敲擊聲,一條蛇從石頭下邊鑽了出來。姑娘嚇得扔下盛飯的籃子,大喊救命,逃走了。結果,那天爸爸一整天都餓著肚子,晚上回到家裏,狠狠地訓斥了三個女兒。


    第二天,輪到二女兒去送飯。她也坐在那塊石頭上休息,也看見了那條蛇,也嚇得逃走了。於是三女兒說:“我去,我去!我不怕。”她帶去了兩籃子食物,當她聽見聲響看到蛇鑽出來的時候,就遞給它一籃子食物。蛇對她說:“把我帶回你家,我會給你帶來好運。”女孩就把它藏在圍裙裏,給田裏的爸爸送去另一份午餐後,回到了家,把蛇放在自己的床下。蛇一天天長大,不能再待在床下了。它要離開了,走之前,它送給姑娘三個法寶作為報答:當姑娘哭的時候,掉下來的眼淚會變成一串串珍珠和銀子;笑的時候,會從頭上掉下來一粒粒的金石榴籽;洗手的時候,會從她的手指間掉出各種各樣的魚。


    一天,家裏什麽吃的也沒有了,父親和姐姐們餓得無精打采的。三女兒突然試著洗洗手,果然,臉盆裏立即遊滿了魚。兩個姐姐心生嫉妒,硬說這裏麵一定有什麽邪術,讓父親最好把她關在閣樓上。


    姑娘從閣樓的窗戶,可以看見王宮的花園,國王的兒子正在花園裏踢球。踢著踢著,一不小心,王子滑倒了,摔了個屁股蹲。姑娘禁不住大笑起來。她一笑,一粒粒的金石榴籽像雨點般落了下去。王子弄不清這些金石榴籽是從哪裏掉下來的,因為姑娘很快關上了窗戶。


    第二天,王子又來到花園踢球,他發現花園中長出一棵石榴樹,石榴樹長得很高,還結出了果實。王子讓人去摘石榴果,但石榴樹眼看著就長高了,正好就高出一個手掌;怎麽夠也夠不到。看到人們連一片樹葉也摘不到,國王就召集身邊的幾位智者,讓他們搞清楚這棵樹到底有什麽魔力。其中一位年紀最大的老智者說,隻有一個姑娘才能把這些石榴果摘下來,而這個姑娘將會成為王子的新娘。


    國王立即派人貼出布告,讓每個待嫁的姑娘都到王宮花園來試著摘石榴,違令者斬首。結果,各家各戶的姑娘都來了,可是不論她們用多高的梯子,都夠不到果子。農夫的兩個大女兒也來了,但很快就從梯子上摔了下來。國王又派人繼續到各家去搜尋,看有沒有遺漏的姑娘,這樣,被關在閣樓上的姑娘就被找到了。她剛被送到樹旁,樹枝就垂下來,把石榴果送到她的手上。所有人都驚奇地大叫:“她就是新娘!她就是新娘!”其中,王子叫得最歡。


    婚禮已經準備就緒,一直就懷著妒意的兩個姐姐也被邀請去參加婚禮。姐妹三人坐同一輛馬車進宮。馬車穿過一處森林時,停了下來。兩個姐姐讓小妹下車,砍下她的雙手,挖出她的雙眼,把她當作死人扔在了樹叢中。而大姐則穿上新娘的衣服,去見王子。王子看見新娘一時變得如此醜陋,疑惑不解,但是因為大姐與小妹妹長得有些相像,王子覺得是自己先前看走眼了。


    失去了雙眼、雙手的姑娘在樹林中哭著。這時一個馬夫正好路過,他很同情她,扶她上了自己的驢背,好把她帶回家。姑娘讓馬夫看看地上,隻見滿地是姑娘眼淚變成的珍珠和銀子,馬夫把這些東西拿出去賣了,得了一千多裏拉。這樣,雖然姑娘沒有雙手、雙眼,不能幹活,也不能照顧家,但生活得還算滿意。


    有一天,姑娘感覺到有一條蛇纏在她的一條腿上,這正是她的老朋友,那條她曾照顧過的蛇。蛇告訴她:“你知道嗎?你的姐姐嫁給了王子,老國王死後,她就成了王後,現在她懷孕了,非常想吃無花果。”


    姑娘就對馬夫說:“你馱上一袋無花果,到王宮給王後送去吧。”


    馬夫說:“這個季節,怎麽可能找到無花果呢?”當時正是冬天。


    可是,到了早上,馬夫來到園子裏一看,發現無花果樹真的結出了果子,而且隻有果實,一片葉子也沒有。他裝滿了兩籃子,馱在驢背上。


    馬夫問:“這些冬天裏長出的無花果我該怎麽要價呢?”


    姑娘說:“你就說要換一對眼珠。”


    馬夫按照姑娘的話提出了要求,但是不論是王後、國王,還是王後的妹妹,都不願意挖出自己的眼珠。姐妹二人商量了一下,說:“那就把小妹的那對眼珠給他吧,我們留著它們有什麽用?”就這樣,她們用妹妹的這對眼珠換了兩籃無花果。


    馬夫把這對眼珠帶了回來交給姑娘,姑娘把它們重新裝好後,又像以前一樣可以看東西了。


    後來,王後又想吃桃子,國王便派人來找馬夫,問他能不能像找到無花果那樣,找到桃子。第二天早上,馬夫家院子中的桃樹果然長出桃子,他又用驢子立即馱到王宮裏去了。國王、王後問他要多少錢,馬夫說:“要換一雙手。”


    但是沒人願意砍下自己的雙手,即使是那些想討好國王的人也不願意。王後姐妹又私下商量:“把小妹的那雙手給他吧。”


    姑娘得到了自己的一雙手,重新接到胳膊上,活動如初。


    不久,王後分娩了,生下了一隻蠍子。盡管如此,國王還是同樣為她舉行了慶祝宴會,邀請了所有的人來參加。小妹妹穿得像王後般高貴,成為晚會上最漂亮的姑娘。國王愛上了她,而且在愛上她的同時發覺她就是自己先前看中的那個新娘。姑娘向國王講述了自己的經曆,邊講邊笑,邊講邊哭,笑的時候,金石榴籽就從她的頭上撲撲地掉下來,哭的時候,眼淚就會變成串串珍珠,洗手時,滿盆都是活魚。


    兩個狠毒的姐姐和剛生出來的蠍子,被拉到高高的木柴垛上燒死了。同一天,國王和小妹舉行了盛大的結婚典禮。


    他們過著奢侈、冷酷的生活


    我卻躲在門後挨餓,


    我回到客棧去吃飯


    我的故事到此說完。


    (蒙費拉托地區)


    thesnake


    afarmerwentoutmowingeveryday,andatnoononeortheotherofhisthreedaughterswouldbringhimhislunch.onacertaindayitfelltotheoldestgirltogo.bythetimeshereachedthewoods,though,shewastiredandsatdownonastorestaminutebeforeproceedingtothemeadow.nosoonerhadshetakenaseatthanshefeltastrongthudunderneath,andoutcrawledasnake.thegirldroppedthebasketandranhomeasfastasherlegswouldcarryher.thatdaythefatherwenthungryandwhenhecameinfromthefieldhescoldedhisdaughtersangrily.


    thenextdaythemiddlegirlstartedout.shetoosatdownonthestone,andthesamethingurredasthedaybefore.thenthethirdgirlsaid,"itsmyturnnow,butimnotafraid."insteadofonelunchbasket,shepreparedtwo.whenshefeltthethudandsawthesnake,shegaveitoneofthebasketsoffood,andthesnakespoke."takemehomewithyou,andiwillbringyouluck."thegirlputthesnakeinherapronandthenwentontoherfatherwithhislunch.whenshegotbackhome,shecedthesnakeunderherbed.itgrewsorapidlythatsoonitwastoobigtofitunderthebed,soitwentaway.beforeleaving,however,itbestowedthreecharmsonthegirl:weeping,shewouldshedtearsofpeandsilverughing,shewouldseegoldenpomegranateseedsfallfromherhead;andwashingherhands,shewouldproducefishofeverykind.


    thatdaytherewasnothinginthehousetoeat,andherfatherandsisterswereweakfromthehunger,sowhatdidshedobutwashherhandsandseethebasinfillupwithfish!hersistersbecameenviousandconvincedtheirfatherthattherewassomethingstrangebehindallthisandthathewouldbewisetolockthegirlupintheattic.


    fromtheatticwindowthegirllookedintothekingsgarden,wherethekingssonwasyingball.runningaftertheball,heslippedandfell,sendingthegirlintopealsoughter.asshughed,goldpomegranateseedsrainedfromherheadonthegarden.thekingssonhadnoideawheretheycamefrom,forthegirlhadmmedthewindow.


    returningtothegardennextdaytoyball,thekingssonnoticedthatapomegranatetreehadsprungup.itwasalreadyquitetandenwithfruit.hewenttopickthepomegranates,butthetreegrewtallerrightbeforehiseyes,andallhehadtodowasreachforapomegranateandthebrancheswouldriseafootbeyondhisgrasp.sincenobodymanagedtoplucksomuchasoneleafofthetree,thekingassembledthewisementoexinthemagicspell.theoldestofthemallsaidthatonlyonemaidenwouldbeabletopickthefruitandthatshewouldbethebrideofthekingsson.


    sothekingissuedapromationforallmarriageablegirlstetothegarden,underpainofdeath,totrytopickthepomegranates.girlsofeveryraceandstationshowedup,butndderswereeverlongenoughforthemtoreachthefruit.amongthecontestantswerethefarmerstwoolderdaughters,buttheyfelloffthdderanndedtontheirbacks.thekinghadthehousessearchedandfoundothergirls,includingtheonelockedupintheattic.assoonastheytookhertothetree,thebranchesbentdownandcedthepomegranatesrightinherhands.everyonecheered,"thatsthebride,thatsthebride!"withthekingssonshoutingloudestofall.


    preparationsweremadeforthewedding,towhichthesisters,asenviousasever,wereinvited.theyallthreerodeinthesamecarriage,whichdrewtoahaltinthemiddleofaforest.theoldergirlsorderedtheyoungeroneoutofthecarriage,curoffherhands,gougedouthereyes,andleftherlyingunconsciousinthebushes.thentheoldestgirldressedintheweddinggownandwenttothekingsson.hecouldntunderstandwhyshedbesougly,butsinceshefaintlyresembledtheothergirl,hedecidedhedbeenmistakenalongaboutheroriginalbeauty.


    eyelessandhandless,themaidenremainedintheforestweeping.acartercamebyandhadpityonher.heseatedheronhismuleandtookhertohishouse.shetoldhimtolookdown:thegroundwasstrewnwithsilverandpearls,whichwerenoneotherthanthegirlstears.thecartertookthemandsoldthemformorethanathousandcrowns.howdhewastohavetakenthepoorgirlin,evenifshewasunabletoworkandhelpthefamily.


    onedaythegirlfeltasnakewraparoundherleg:itwasthesnakeshehadoncebefriended."didyouknowyoursistermarriedthekingssonandbecamequeen,sincetheoldkingdied?nowshesexpectingababyandwantsfigs."


    thegirlsaidtothecarter,"loadamulewithfigsandtakethemtothequeen."


    "whereamigoingtogetfigsthistimeofyear?"askedthecarter.ithappenedtobewinter.


    butthenextmorninghewentintothegardenandfoundthefigtredenwithfruit,eventhoughtherewasntaleafonthetree.hefilleduptwobasketsandloadedthemontohisdonkey.


    "howhighapricecaniaskforfigsinwinter?"saidthecarter.


    "askforapairofeyes,"repliedthemaiden.


    thathedid,butneitherthekingnorthequeennorherothersisterwouldhaveevergougedouttheireyes.sothesisterstalkedthematterover."letsgivehimoursisterseyes,whichareofnousetous."withthoseeyestheypurchasedthefigs.


    thecarterreturnedtothemaidenwiththeeyes.sheputthembackinceandsawagainaswesever.


    thenthequeenhadadesireforpeaches,andthekingsenttothecarteraskingifhecouldntfindsomepeachesthewayhedfoundfigs.thenextmorningthepeachtreeinthecartersgardenwadenwithpeaches,andhetookaloadtocourtatonceonhisdonkey.whentheyaskedhimwhathewantedforthem,hereplied,"apairofhands."


    butnobodywouldcutofftheirhands,noteventopleasetheking.thenthesisterstalkedthematterover."letsgivehimoursisters."


    whenthegirlgotherhandsback,shereattachedthemtoherarmsandwasassoundasever.


    notlongafterward,thequeenwentintborandbroughtforthascorpion.thekingnhelessgaveaball,towhicheverybodywasinvited.thegirlwentdressedasaqueenandwasthebelleoftheball.thekingfellinlovewithherandrealizedshewashistruebride.shughedgoldenseeds,weptpearls,andwashedfishintothebasin,asshetoldherstoryfromstarttofinish.


    thetwowickedsistersandthescorpionwereburnedonapyreskyhigh.onthesamedaythegrandweddingbanquettookce.


    theyputonthedogandhighdidtheysoar;


    isaw,iheard,ihidbehindthedoor.


    thentodinerepaireditotheinn,


    andtheremystorydrawstoanend.


    (monferrato)


    notes:


    "thesnake"biscia)froparetti,25,monferrato,piedmont.


    theluxuriantstoryfromthefacetiousnights(iii,3)aboutbiancabeandtheserpent,oneofstraparsfinest,isheretold,onthecontrary,inbarerusticsimplicity,inthemidstofmeadowsreadyforamowing,fruits,andseasons.theepisodeofthepomegranatetreewithitsfruitthatcannotbepluckedwasaddedbymetofilloutasomewhatsketchypassageinthepiedmonteseversion.itookitfromatuscanvariant(gradi),basedonmotifsfromthistaleandothers,wheresupernaturalhelesfromaredandgoldfish.


    copyright:italianfolktalesselectedandretoldbyitalocalvino,


    trantedbygeorgemartin,


    pantheonbooks,newyork1980

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意大利童話所有內容均來自互聯網,uu小說網隻為原作者伊塔羅·卡爾維諾的小說進行宣傳。歡迎各位書友支持伊塔羅·卡爾維諾並收藏意大利童話最新章節